High speed punch

ABSTRACT

This invention relates to a light-weight, high-speed punch of very simple construction comprising a constantly rotating eccentric shaft; a number of interponents, or drivers, journalled on the eccentric (one for each punch to be operated); and a number of punches slidably mounted in a guide bar are aligned with the interponents but normally not operatively connected thereto. The interponents and the punches are normally not in engagement with each other; the end of the interponent adjacent the punch being resiliently restrained, as by slight friction, in a disengaged position, leaving the other, or free, end of the interponent free to oscillate through a circular path with the rotation of the eccentric. Whenever a punch is required to be operated, a block is interposed in the path of travel of the free end of the interponent, whereby the other end of the interponent is forced by the rotation of the eccentric into engagement with the punch to push it through a punching operation. A nose on the interponent positively restores the interponent to an inoperative position at the end of that cycle of rotation. It is assumed that the card or tape to be punched will be fed by conventional feeding means.

United States Patent [1 1 Malavazos et al.

[.451 Sept. 3, 1974 HIGH SPEED PUNCH [75] Inventors: Arthur J.Malavazos, Hayward; Jan

Urdal, San Mateo, both of Calif.

[73] Assignee: A. J. M. Research Corporation,

Hayward, Calif.

[22] Filed: Mar. 12, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 339,985

Related US. Application Data [63] Continuation-impart of Ser. No.183,151, Sept. 23,

1971, abandoned.

2,620,877 12/1952 Furman 234/110 X 2,924,275 2/ 1960 Tholstrup 234/1103,556,396 1/1971 Terbrueggen 234/110 Primary Examiner-J. M. MeisterAttorney, Agent, or Firm-Robyn Wilcox [5 7] ABSTRACT This inventionrelates to a light-weight, high-speed punch of very simple constructioncomprising a constantly rotating eccentric shaft; a number ofinterponents, or drivers, journalled on the eccentric (one for eachpunch to be operated); and a number of punches slidably mounted in aguide bar are aligned with the interponents but normally not operativelyconnected thereto. The interponents and the punches are normally not inengagement with each other; the end of the interponent adjacent thepunch being resiliently restrained, as by slight friction, in adisengaged position, leaving the other, or free, end of the interponentfree to oscillate through a circular path with the rotation of theeccentric. Whenever a punch is required to be operated, a block isinterposed in the path of travel of the free end of the interponent,whereby the other end of the interponent is forced by the rotation ofthe eccentric into engagement with the punch to push it through apunching operation. A nose on the interponent positively restores theinterponent to an inoperative position at the end of that cycle ofrotation. It is assumed that the card or tape to be punched will be fedby conventional feeding means.

7 Claims, 16 Drawing Figures PAIENTED E wn 3.933.169] SIEU 1 N5INVENTORS. Grihm .Qflolavazos PATENTED SHEET 2 0F 5 I N VENTORSQ Grfhunalvazos PATENTEU 3i? SHEET 3 OF 5 INVENTORS. @rHmr Qglnaswazos BY r a@WQQW A onusv HIGH SPEED PUNCH BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Thisapplication is a continuation-in-part of our pending application of thesame title, S.N. 183,151, filed Sept. 23, 1971.

In the past, the usual construction of high-speed card punches has beento use an eccentrically mounted drive for a punching member and aninterponent normally positioned to one side of the aligned eccentricoperating member and punch but movable to an interposing position inwhich the operation of the eccentric member actuates the punch. Theinterponents are usually carried in an elaborate carriage, or basket,which likewise must follow the movement of the eccentrically mounteddriver. Such constructions require carefully machined parts, elaboratemechanisms that are usually quite large as compared to the size of thecard to be punched, and are very expensive to manufacture and maintain.In contrast to the elaborate mechanisms of the past, we have discoveredthat a high-speed punch can be manufactured which utilizes much simplerparts made primarily from ordinary stampings. Our construction requiresmuch fewer parts and the entire elimination of the reciprocating basketand of all of its mechanisms. In view of this simplicity of this device,there is considerably smaller mass than heretofore known, hence thismachine can operate at higher speeds and is simpler to maintain.

In the preferred form of our invention, the operating parts for eachorder of the punch are two; an eccentrically mounted driver driven by aconstantly rotating shaft, and the punching member itself. The presentdevice utilizes a two-armed eccentric, i.e., a lever that is mounted onthe constantly rotating eccentric at an intermediate point thereof; andutilizes the principle that if the operating end of the eccentric (thatis, the end which engages the punch) is slightly restrained at aposition away from the punch (as by friction or magnetic force, or anyforce which would hold one arm in a position with a slight bias), thatend will reciprocate linearly rather than follow a circular path greaterthan that of the eccentric itself. In one form of the invention thedevice requires, for each order of the punch, a simple small solenoidand a blocking member operated by the solenoid. A blocking member is notinterposed between the punch and the eccentrically mounted operatingmember, but is dropped to stop the movement of the free end of theeccentric member, i.e., the end remote from the punch, for a shortportion of each cycle of operation. Whenever a block is interposedbetween the free end of the eccentric lever and its normal path oftravel, the free end becomes restrained and the operating end is kickedinto an operating position over the punch itself. These two operatingmovements of the eccentric are compared in FIGS. 2 to 5 and 6 to 9,respectively.

The construction of our device utilizes fewer parts, more roughly madeparts, and has much less mass; and consequently can operate at a higherspeed than has heretofore been possible.

OBJECTS The primary object of the present invention is to provide asimple, trouble-free, and high-speed punch for punching cards and likematerials.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a card punchoperating at speeds not heretofore economically sound.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a very small andsimple punch which, for the most part, can be made out of simplestampings or easily purchased parts.

These and other objects of the invention will be apparent from aconsideration of the detailed specification which follows, taken inconjunction with the drawings in which:

FIG. I is a perspective view of the card punch of the present invention.

FIGS. 2 to S, inclusive, are side views of the two operating members ofthe present invention, i.e., the eccentrically mounted lever and thepunch, taken in the 0, and 270 positions, respectively, during aninoperative, or non-punching, cycle, and shows the normal path of travelof the free end of the eccentrically mounted lever, the view being takenalong the plane indicated by the line 22 of FIG. 11.

FIGS. 6 to 9, inclusive, are similar to FIGS. 2 to 5, inclusive, butdiffer therefrom in that a solenoid operated block is interposed in thepath of travel of the free end of the eccentric lever, thereby kickingthe operating end into engagement with the card punch and again show theparts in the 0, 90, 180 and 270 positions, respectively.

FIG. 10 is an enlarged plan view of two orders of the lower end of theeccentrically mounted driver, such as taken along the plane indicated bythe line 10-10 of FIG. 12, and which illustrates one method of holdingthe driving member in the desired inoperative position.

FIG. 11 is a plan view of the punch of the present invention, with partsbroken away in order to better present the arrangement of the operativeparts of this invention.

FIG. 12 is a front view of a portion of the mechanism shown in FIG. 11.

FIG. 13 is a partial plan view of another embodiment of the inventionutilizing the same eccentrically mounted driver and punch, but utilizingelectric magnets to prevent movement of the free ends of the eccentriclevers during punching strokes.

FIG. 14 is a side view of one order of the device shown in FIG. 13.

FIG. 15 is a side view of a second embodiment of the eccentric mountingof the driver of the present invention; and

FIG. 16 is a plan view of the mechanism shown in FIG. 15.

This invention relates to a light-weight, high-speed card punch. Whileit normally will operate at speeds exceeding those customary in thisart, the machine is light enough to be readily portable, as is shown inFIG. 1. A card punch 20 is normally enclosed in a cover 21, the sides ofwhich are provided with a feed slot 22 for the passage of punch cards23. Operation of the device is controlled by a suitable switch 24, asthese devices are normally operated by an electric motor which runsconstantly while the punch is to be operated. A power cord 25 suppliespower to operate the device. Since the high-speed punches are operatedby other equipment normally operating through timed and discrete pulses,the device of the present invention is provided with a pulsesynchronizer, to be later described, and the pulses are fed into thedevice through a cable 26.

It is believed that the operation of the present device can best beunderstood by describing the action of a single punch and driver, as isshown in FIGS. 2 to 9, inclusive. However, for the moment it should benoted that the punching device is mounted in side frames and 31, FIGS.11 and 12, which are interconnected by a base member 32. Suitablyjournalled in bearings in the side frames 30 and 31 is a drive shaft 33which is machined to provide an eccentric section 34 between the twoside frames. This shaft rotates constantly at high speed throughout theperiod when the punch is to be operated. An upper plate 35 carries theseveral individual punch controllers, such as solenoids, in the deviceshown in FIGS. 11 and 12, or the electromagnets shown in FIGS. 13 and14. The base plate 32 is provided with an aligned column of apertures 36under the eccentric shaft 34, these apertures being arranged in a singleline, or column, across the device in order to punch holes in the punchcard in the respective columns thereof. The punches 45 and thecooperating apertures 36 are so designed that the punch member 45 willslide easily in the aperture 36 but will be held against vibration andwobble. A somewhat simpler and less expensive construction shownparticularly in FIGS. 2 to 9 is to make the slots 36 relatively large toenable easy assembly of each punch 45 and its associated driver 50, andto properly guide the punch by a guide plate held across the slots 36 ofthe base plate.

The punch members of the present invention have a lower, or punching,end of a size similar to those now normally used. As shown in FIG. 12,the lower section is preferably rectangular in shape with a slightcutting point, as shown. The other end of the punch is slightly enlargedto include an aperture 46 which is adapted to enclose a nose 54 on theinterponent 50, to be described in the next paragraph. It can be notedat this point, however, that the aperture 46 in the punch member 45 isof a length sufficient to permit reciprocation of the nose 54 of theassociated interponent throughout its path of operation without in anyway moving the punch member, except that when the punch has beenoperated to punch a hole in the card 23, the nose 54 engages the upperend of the aperture 46 and raises the punch to an inoperative positionat the end of a cycle. It should be noted, however, that so long asthere is no pulse to operate the punch in a particular columnarposition, the interponent will reciprocate idly within the aperture, orslot, 46 in the punch member.

FIGS. 2 to 5, inclusive, illustrate four angular positions of theeccentrically mounted interponent of the device during an inoperative,or non-punching stroke. A punch card 23 is fed through a feed slotformed by a pair of plates-37 and 38 affixed to the lower face of thebase plate 32 and separated by a spacing sufficient to permit thepassage of a punch card 23 while holding it firmly against unnecessarymotion. As indicated above, we prefer that the lower ends of the punchesare rather firmly confined within apertures provided in a guide plate 40rigidly mounted in the lower face of the base 32 and within theinterponent apertures 36. Both of the plates 37 and 38 have an aperture43 or 44, respectively, that registers with the punch ways in block 40so that the punch member 45 will extend through both plates as well asthe card during a punching stroke.

It can be noted that the card can be fed by any customary means, such ascard feed wheels 39 penetrating apertures of the lower plate 38 anddriving the card forward through'the punch. Since feed mechanisms areold and are not claimed herein, it is believed unnecessary to furtherdescribe them, as any of the various feeding mechanisms can be used topass the cards under the row of columnar punches 45.

The various eccentrically mounted interponents, or drivers, arepreferably stamped from sheet stock and take the form of double endedlevers which are rotatably mounted on the eccentric portion 34 of shaft33. The upper, or free, arm 51 of each eccentric driver 50 lies oppositethe front face 41 of the upper plate 35 at all times, even when in thelowermost position shown in FIG. 4 and will engage the face 41 duringthe upward stroke of the driver (FIG. 5). This plate 35 not onlyprovides support for certain parts of the device but it also operates tocam the upper arm forwardly (as shown in FIG. 5) during the rise of theinterponent from its lowermost position shown in FIG. 4 and thusdisengage the interponent from the punch member 45 if it happens to beengaged therewith (see FIG. 9). The lower arm 52 is shaped to provide ashoulder 53 which is adapted to engage the upper edge of the punchmember 45 during the downstroke of the driver 50, that is, as it passesfrom the position shown in FIGS. 2 and 6 to that shown in FIGS. 3 and 7.It is also provided with a nose 54 which lies within the aperture 46 ofthe punch member 45. Also, in order to reduce friction, it is preferredto provide the nose 54 with a heel 55 which rides against the end walls42 of the slots 36.

Normally, if both arms 51 and 52 of the eccentric driver 50 werecompletely unrestrained, both ends would tend to rock equally as thedriver was moved on the eccentric 34. However, we have found that if aslight pressure is exerted against the lower arm 52 to hold it againstfree movement, the upper arm 51 will rock as shown 'in FIGS. 2 to 5while the lower end moves a straight line reciprocating movement withthe heel 55 always engaging the left wall 42 (as viewed in thesefigures) of the slot 36 in the base plate 32, and thus the shoulder 53would never overlie the punch member 45. Such slight pressure can beexerted by a comb-type spring, but in our preferred embodiment,comprises a felt pad 56 held against the upper face of the base plate 32by any suitable means, such as a metal plate 57. The felt pad isprovided with apertures barely large enough to hold, or embrace, the arm52 of the eccentric driver 50 and when the upper plate 57 is tightlypressed against the base plate 32 by any suitable means, such as screws(not shown), the felt is pressed into rather tight engagement with thesides of the arm 52. This construction is shown particularly in FIG. 10and is sufficient to hold the lower arm 52 of the eccentric driveragainst the wall 42 which forms the end of slot 36. Conversely, when thelower arm 52 is kicked into an operative, or punching, position, inwhich the shoulder 53 engages the punch 45, the pressure of the felt padagainst the driver would retain it in that position except for the factthat as the driver moves from its lowermost position shown in FIG. 4 tothe threequarter position shown in FIG. 9 (and FIG. 5) and thence to thestarting position shown in FIG. 6 (and FIG. 2), the upper arm 51, byengaging the wall 41 of the upper plate 35, cams the driver 50 to theinoperative position shown in FIGS. 2 and 6. Thus, instead of the lowerarm 52 being semi-restrained during the upward portion of the stroke, asby friction as heretofore described, the movement of the upper arm 51 torock the driver 50 clockwise on the eccentric 34 is made by a strongerforce.

Further, it is obvious that the lower arm 52 must move(counter-clockwise or to the right as shown in FIGS. 6 to 9, inclusive)whenever a greater force than that provided by friction of felt pad 56blocks normal travel of the upper arm 51. Such a restraining forceagainst the upper arm can be a mechanical block 60, as shown in FIGS. 6to 9, inclusive, or an electromagnet 81 shown in FIGS. 13 and 14. If theblock 60 is depressed so that it is engaged by the upper end of the arm51 of the eccentric driver, the lower arm 52 is kicked over the upperedge of the punch member 45 and depresses it through its punchingstroke, as shown in FIG. 8. In the last half of the cycle, the eccentricrises from the position shown in FIG. 8 to that shown in FIG. 6 and thetoe 54 of the eccentric, through its registration with slot 46 in thepunch, lifts the punch from its fully operative, or depressed, positionin FIG. 8 to that shown in FIG. 6. During the rising movement of theeccentric 50, the back edge of the arm 51 engages the face 41 of theupper bar 35 (as shown in FIG. 9) and cams the lower arm 52 clockwise toan inoperative position. Until the interaction of the arm 51 with theface 41 of the bar 35, which begins in the third quadrant of operationand is completed in about 90 of movement, the friction between theshoulder 53 on the eccentric and the upper face of the punch 45, as wellas the friction of the felt pad 56, holds the two members together sothat a punching stroke will be completed, even though the block 60 isremoved.

The block 60 can be operated through any suitable means and for purposesof exemplification, we show the block 60 as operated by an arm 61. Inthe embodiment shown in FIGS. 2 to 9, inclusive, the arm 61 is operatedby a suitable electromagnetic coil 62 which may take any suitable form,as, for example, a solenoid. A pulse through the coil 62 of any of thepunches will pull its arm 61 downwardly, thereby depressing theassociated block 60 to become engaged by the upper arm 51 of theeccentric 50. Once the arm 51 has engaged the block 60, the lower arm 52must rock to its operative position to engage the punch 45 and the blockcan be immediately released, as the force of friction between theshoulder 53 and the punch 45 will keep the parts in the operatingcondition. As shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, the arms 61 can be mounted onbars 63 and normally will be biased to an inoperative, or raised,position by some suitable spring means, not shown.

As shown particularly in FIG. 11, in order to make the mechanisms ofefficient size but to keep spacing of the punches 45 to the conventionaldistance, it is preferred that the operating arms 61 and theirrespective coils 62 be staggered on opposite sides of the device, asshown in FIG. 11. By so alternately spacing the coils 62 on oppositesides of the device, an efficient size of coil 62 can be used withoutany sacrifice in spacing as well as avoid complex mechanical leveragesto operate the block 60. Finally, it is preferred that a limit bar 64mounted in the end plates 30, 31- be used to limit the upward movementof the arms 61 and the block 60, as shown.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that some means must beprovided to synchronize the pulses from the pulse-generating deviceswith the operation of the punch so that the blocking member 60 will beoperated as the eccentric 50 reaches its raised position shown in FIGS.2 and 6 and starts its downward stroke. This can readily be accomplishedby means of a pulse synchronizer of known construction which can bemounted on the drive shaft 33, as shown in FIGS. 11 and 12. Since suchpulse synchronizers are of known construction, it is believedunnecessary to describe one here. It is also believed unnecessary todescribe the pulse generator, or the device which feeds the necessarypulses to the solenoids or electromagnets 62, since several differentdevices are known and any of them would be satisfactory to operate thepunch of the present invention.

FIGS. 13 and 14 illustrate another, and for some installations, apreferred blocking means for the punch of the present invention. Inthese two figures, the restraint of the upper arm is provided by anelectromagnet which is energized by a suitable coil 81. We have foundthat the force from a small electromagnet 80 is sufficient to overcomethe force of friction provided by the felt pad 56. Since 'the operationof the eccentric and the punch 45 are the same as previously disclosed,it is believed sufficient to point out that only a slight frictionalforce is required to hold the lower arm 52 of the eccentric againstoperative movement, and hence only a slightly stronger magnetic forceneed be exerted by the electromagnet 80 to hold the upper arm 51 in theoperative position shown in FIG. 14 and hence kick the lower arm 52counter-clockwise to its operative position from that shown in thisfigure. Clearly, when there is no pulse through a coil, and thus theelectromagnet 80 is inoperative, the upper end 51 of the driver 50 willtravel along the path shown in FIGS. 2 and 5. Again, it can be notedthat the spacing of the punching members 50 does not need to be alteredfrom standard practice and that while the armatures 80 of theelectromagnets enclose the upper ends 51 of the eccentrics 50, the coils81 do not need to be side-by-side. In FIGS. 13 and 14, the arrangementis shown of one coil being placed close to the eccentric drivers 50 andthe next one removed therefrom, but with the armature extended toenclose the upper end of the upper arm 51 of the eccentric.

A second forrn of eccentric mounting of the drivers 150 is shown inFIGS. 15 and 16. In this embodiment, the drive shaft 133 carries a pairof eccentric bearing mounts 134 rigidly mounted thereon. Each of theeccentrics 134 carries a roller bearing 134 one race of the bearingbeing attached to the eccentric. The other race of the bearing 135 ismounted in an arm 136, one end of which is affixed to a resilient springarm 137. The two spring arms 137 are firmly attached to a rear wall 120of the device. The rotation of the shaft 133 and the eccentrics 134causes the arms 136 to travel in a somewhat eggshaped path as the springbrackets 137 restrain one end (the left end in FIG. 15) of the arm. Thefree ends of the arms 136 carry a bar .149 upon which are mounted aplurality of drivers 150. The drivers are much thinner than those of theprevious embodiments as their hubs do not encompass an eccentric, asshown in FIG. 15. The lower arm of each driver 150 is provided with theshoulder 53, toe 54 penetrating the aperture 46 in punch member 45 andwith a heel 55 which normally engages the wall 42 of the slot 36 in basemember 32. As in the former embodiment, the friction provided by a feltpad 56 clamped to the base plate by a cover plate 57 is sufficient torestrain the lower end of the arm 152 against the wall 42, or in thealternate operative position in which the shoulder 53 overlies the punch45. At the end of each cycle of operation, the camming effect of theupper end of the upper arm 151 against the wall 41 of upper plate 35earns the lower end to the inoperative position shown in FIG. 15. 'Whenthe magnet is not energized, the lower end of the lever 150 isresiliently restrained, the upper arm 151 will oscillate freely untilits movement is blocked by energization of its associated magnet 81 oroperation of the block 60. In either event, the upper arm 151 is heldwith a greater force than that exerted by the friction of the felt pad56 against the lower end of the lower arm 152. Consequently, the lowerarm is kicked over the punch 45 and the punch is operated as heretoforedescribed.

. This embodiment of drive mounting, while a little more complex in somerespects, has the advantage that the total weight of the eccentrics andparts moved thereby, can be slightly less than that in the embodimentshown particularly in FIGS. 2 to 14, inclusive. This embodiment doeshave the advantages that the shaft on which the drivers 150 pivot, doesnot rotate and therefore eliminates virtually all frictional drag andbearing wear at this point. Another advantage is that the shaft diametercan be made relatively small, thereby reducing the size of the drivers150 and also the mass of the eccentric shaft shown in earlierembodiments. The weight, friction, balance, and constantly rotatingportion of the device, i.e., the shaft 133 or 33, eccentrics 134 andarms 136, as compared to interponents 50, etc., become importantwhen, ashere, the device is being driven at high speed from the constantlyrotating shaft 33 or 133.

In the present invention it is necessary to keep in mind that if one endof an eccentrically mounted leveris restrained slightly while the otherend is free to travel, the restrained end will travel in an almoststraight line, i.e., the heel 55 rides up and down the wall 42. Then ifa greater restraint is placed upon the former free end, the first endmust move. When this principle is applied to a high-speed card punch, itis seen that much of the apparatus of former punches can be eliminated,thereby increasing the speed of the punch, making it easier and cheaperto manufacture and operating at higher speeds than heretofore practical.

It will be obvious that many modifications can be made in the basicconcept of the present invention. For example, while a felt pad providessufficient friction to hold the lower end of the driving member in thedesired position for inoperative cycling, other restrictive means couldbe used. Springs of various sorts could be applied to the arm. One suchspring could be a comb spring with the teeth thereof bent against theside of the driver, or other types of springs could be applied in otherways. It is believed obvious that instead of the simple eccentric shownin our preferred embodiments, any cam means, such as a square motioncam, or one giving essentially a linear motion plus a lateral movement,can be used to provide movement of the driver. It is believed all suchdrive mountings would come under the term eccentric, for some part ofthe drive does have to be eccentric to the drive shaft bearings. Anothersuggestion has been to use a permanent magnet in the base plate 32 alongthe wall 42, thereby biasing .the heel 55 against it. Likewise, variousforms of blocks or restraints can be used to control the movement of theupper arm 152 of the driving member, although the preferred forms havebeen shown as a mechanical block or an electromagnet operated from thepulse-generating source to restrain the upper arm during the firstportion of a cycle of operation. These and other embodiments will beobvious to those skilled in the art and should be included within thescope of the present invention.

We claim:

1. A high-speed punch comprising:

a. an eccentric,

b. means for constantly rotating said eccentric,

c. a punch driver journalled on said eccentric,

d. a punch normally not engaged by said driver,

e. means on one end of said driver for engaging said punch to drive saidpunch in one direction,

f. means on said end of said driver for returning said punch to aninoperative position,

g. means for resiliently restraining said first mentioned end of saiddriver in a disengaged position with respect to said punch,

h. preventing means for momentarily preventing a movement of the otherend of said driving member, and

i. means for operating said preventing means in timed relationship tothe operation of said eccentric.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the preventing means is a mechanicalblock.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the preventing means is anelectromagnet.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the eccentric comprises an eccentricshaft and the respective drive members are individually mounted on saidshaft.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the eccentric is journalled in alever, one end of which is resiliently mounted in said punch and theother end of which carries the respective driving members.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 comprising also means for forcing saiddriver to its inoperative position during the return of the punch to aninoperative position.

7. A high-speed punch comprising:

a. an eccentric providing movement of a follower in both a longitudinaland a transverse direction,

b. means for constantly rotating'said eccentric,

c. a follower journalled on said eccentric,

d. a punch,

e. means on one end of said follower for engaging said punch while saidfollower is moving in one direction,

f. means on said follower for returning said punch to an inoperativeposition,

g. means for resiliently restraining said first mentioned end of saidfollower in one position whereby the other end of said follower travelsin a circular path,

h. preventing means for preventing circular movement of the other end ofsaid follower, and

i. means for operating said preventing means in timed relationship tothe operation of said eccentric. 0:

1. A high-speed punch comprising: a. an eccentric, b. means forconstantly rotating said eccentric, c. a punch driver journalled on saideccentric, d. a punch normally not engaged by said driver, e. means onone end of said driver for engaging said punch to drive said punch inone direction, f. means on said end of said driver for returning saidpunch to an inoperative position, g. means for resiliently restrainingsaid first mentioned end of said driver in a disengaged position withrespect to said punch, h. preventing means for momentarily preventing amovement of the other end of said driving member, and i. means foroperating said preventing means in timed relationship to the operationof said eccentric.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the preventingmeans is a mechanical block.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein thepreventing means is an electromagnet.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1wherein the eccentric comprises an eccentric shaft and the respectivedrive members are individually mounted on said shaft.
 5. The apparatusof claim 1 wherein the eccentric is journalled in a lever, one end ofwhich is resiliently mounted in said punch and the other end of whichcarries the respective driving members.
 6. The apparatus of claim 1comprising also means for forcing said driver to its inoperativeposition during the return of the punch to an inoperative position.
 7. Ahigh-speed punch comprising: a. an eccentric providing movement of afollower in both a longitudinal and a transverse direction, b. means forconstantly rotating said eccentric, c. a follower journalled on saideccentric, d. a punch, e. means on one end of said follower for engagingsaid punch while said follower is moving in one direction, f. means onsaid follower for returning said punch to an inoperative position, g.means for resiliently restraining said first mentioned end of saidfollower in one position whereby the other end of said follower travelsin a circular path, h. preventing means for preventing circular movementof the other end of said follower, and i. means for operating saidpreventing means in timed relationship to the operation of saideccentric.